From My Mind to....

Post Surgical Check-up. Check!

My wife and I met with my surgeon, Dr. N., yesterday morning after having blood drawn. The draw seems to be standard for these doctors before any major meeting, something with which I've come to terms. I still hate needles.

My wife, I should add, has been a faithful trooper throughout the trips to the hospital, the tests, the surgery and my slow recovery. Thanks, Babe, I love you.

Dr. N. didn't beat around the bush--he stated that he had removed every bit of cancer that he could see using the equipment at hand. He admitted the possibility that some cells too small to be detected at that time might still exist. Such potential pockets would be monitored by periodic scans, one of which I have scheduled for 6 Jun.

Despite the fact that my type of cancer has not been clinically tested for immunotherapy (see "Some Good News"  for details on this topic), he said that as long as I can tolerate the therapy, I should take advantage of it. And they are still looking into the clinical trials for my specific cancer.

He freed me of my restrictions (lifting weight limit and resuming normal activities) though he said it would still take six to eight months for full strength to return. Also, my occasional pain would continue to lessen over that time. Yeah, that's good.

My good friend (my daughter's husband's mother) who's going through cancer treatments of her own and who has been a tremendous source of comfort and a role model, offered to show me her before and after treatment scans so that I would know what to look for in my own. What an improvement for her scans! I must get copies of my scans.

For now, the future looks good. Hell, I wouldn't have it any other way.

A special thank you to all who have followed this journey and who continue to support me with your well wishes and positive comments and prayers. They DO help.